20 best things to do in Indy in March
1. Free classical concerts at Central Library
2 p.m. March 1, Central Library's Clowes Auditorium, 40 E. St. Clair St., free, (317) 275-4100,imcpl.org.
Tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra aren't cheap. Families can enjoy the musicians' talent for free at this concert. This event will also be offered on April 26.
2. "An Adult Eveningof Shel Silverstein"
March 6 to April 4, Theatre on the Square,
627 Massachusetts Ave., $15 to $20, (317) 685-TOTS (8687), tots.org.
Hookers offer a golden opportunity in "Buy One, Get One Free." And Lisa's daddy shot the pony he got for her birthday.
These are some of the short sketches in "An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein," originally produced by New York's Atlantic Theater Company in 2001. The sketches are a tribute to the dark humor of the beloved American writer.
3. IUPUI Jagathon
6 p.m. March 6 to 6 a.m. March 7, The Jungle at the IUPUI Natatorium, 901 W. New York St., $25, (317) 274-3711, sf.iupui.edu/jagathon.
Support children who fight illnesses by dancing the night away. Since 2003, IUPUI's Jagathon has raised $172,000 to benefit Riley Hospital for Children's Palliative Care. This year's goal is $100,000. Jagathon also offers free food, games and experiences with Riley children and their families. To start a team of dancers, join a team or sign up individually, visit donate.rileykids.org, click on the "Find a Dance Marathon" link, and type "Jagathon" in the "Event Name" search box.
4. Tom Green stand-up
7:45 and 10 p.m. March 6, Crackers Comedy Club, 6821 N. College Ave., $22.50 to $27.50, (317) 255-4211,crackerscomedy.com.
Canadian comedian and actor Tom Green is known for MTV's "The Tom Green Show" and his acting roles in "Freddy Got Fingered" and "Road Trip." He just wrapped up his third season of his talk show "Tom Green Live" on Mark Cuban's AXS TV at the end of 2014. His Broad Ripple shows are for ages 17 and older.
5. Indy Flute Fest feat. Jasmine Choi
7 p.m. March 7, Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St., $18, indyflutefest.weebly.com.
Critically-acclaimed flutist Jasmine Choi has been featured in the "Rising Stars" series in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and has performed solo recitals at Wigmore Hall in London, Seoul Arts Center in Seoul, and Disney Hall in Los Angeles.
6. Hot Jazz for Cool Kids!
3 p.m. March 8, Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., free, (317) 275-4100, imcpl.org.
The Joel Tucker Trio, headed by guitarist Joel Tucker, a graduate of North Central High School and IU, will inspire future jazz musicians.
7. Sarah McLachlan
8 p.m. March 10, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., (317) 231-0000, oldnationalcentre.com.
The three-time Grammy winner performs to promote her new album "Shine On." McLachlan has been nominated for the "Artist of the Year" award, and "Shine On" has been nominated for the "Adult Contemporary Album of the Year" award at the Juno Awards — Canada's Music Awards.
8. IndyFringe DivaFest
March 13 to 15, Indy Eleven Theatre,719 E. St. Clair St., $12 to $15, (317) 522-8099, indyfringe.org.
Only 19 percent of published plays have been written by women, according to IndyFringe. This event was made to challenge and change the gender bias. Featured plays include "Imaginary Kyle" by Bernadette Bartlett and Jenee Lusk, "Royal Friends" by Rita Kohn and "Kosmic Karnival" by Jan White.
9. Transformers: Robots in Disguise
March 7 to July 26, Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., $18.50to $21.50, (317) 334-4000,childrensmuseum.org.
Hasbro's Transformers franchise announced the premiere this year of Transformers TV series, on the franchise's 30-year anniversary. "Transformers" fans of all ages can preview new characters and designs at this exhibit, as well as autobots Optimus Prime, Grimlock and Bumblebee.
10. Indiana Comic Con
Noon to 12 a.m. March 13, 10 a.m. to midnight March 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15, Indianapolis Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., one-day passes $30 to $35; three-day passes $60, free for kids 12 and younger, indianacomiccon.com.
The state's largest comic convention brings together actors, writers, comic book artists and their fans. Celebrity guests include Carrie Fisher from "Star Wars," Jenna Coleman from "Doctor Who," Jason Momoa from "Game of Thrones" and Willow Shields from "The Hunger Games."
The con will also feature voice actresses Paige O'Hara (Belle in "Beauty and the Beast") and Linda Larkin (Jasmine from "Aladdin") and vioce actor Billy West (Fry and Zoidberg from "Futurama" and Ren from "Ren & Stimpy.") Comic book artists Mike Zeck and Jim Steranko will be the guests of honor.
11. Craig Ferguson's Hot & Grumpy Tour: Walking the Earth
8 p.m. March 17, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., (317) 231-0000, oldnationalcentre.com.
Even though he left "The Late Late Show" last year, Scottish-born comedian Craig Ferguson still aims to make Hoosiers laugh on Saint Patrick's Day.
12. Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit"
7 p.m. March 18, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center's Ruth Lilly Performance Hall at the University of Indianapolis, 1400 Hanna Ave.,$10 general admission, free for UIndy students, (317) 788-3251, uindy.edu.
The Portland, Ind., native has choreographed more than 160 dances and ballets since the mid-1960s, winning a Tony Award, two Emmys, 19 honorary doctorates, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts and several other honors. She will share her insights into the creative process.
13. St. Patrick's Dayblock party and parade
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 17, Vermont Street between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets, free, indystpats.com.
A U2 tribute band, Elevation, will kick off the celebration at 10 a.m. on the Hoosier Lottery's Imagine That stage. Highland Reign, a Scots-American folk rock band based in Indy, will perform at noon. Be one of the first 500 people to arrive and get free coffee and doughnuts from Village Pantry. There will also be food vendors and a beer garden.
The Irish Citizen of the Year, Danny O'Malia of O'Malia's Food Markets, will lead the parade, which starts at 11:30 a.m. on North and Pennsylvania streets, heading south and turning on Ohio Street, and turning north on Meridian Street.
14. Shamrock Run and Walk/Shamrockin' the Circle
10 a.m. March 14, Monument Circle,$25, indystpats.com.
People of all ages and abilities can run four miles with a timing tag, or go on a four-mile fitness walk without a timing tag. Participants start at Monument Circle, go to Fountain Square, home of the Irish Hill, and go back to the circle. The race will benefit amateur sports organizations in Central Indiana. Wear green!
15. Greening of the Downtown Canal
5 p.m. March 16, Ohio and West streetson the Canal, free, indystpats.com.
Irish singer Eunan McIntire will entertain at the 19th annual canal greening, an effect created by food coloring. Prize drawings and free shamrock necklaces and hats will be offered.
16. Winter Jam 2015 Tour Spectacular
7 p.m. March 20, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., $10, (317) 917-2727, bankerslifefieldhouse.com.
Started by contemporary music group NewSong in 1995, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular features top Christian music artists. On the lineup: Grammy-nominated rock band Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Blanca, Francesca Battistelli, and For King & Country. The event will also feature speaker and evangelist Tony Nolan. Tickets can be bought at the door.
17. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Ride-Out Tour
7:30 p.m. March 22, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., (317) 917-2727, bankerslifefieldhouse.com.
The Midwestern, heartland rock singer performs in support of new album, "Ride Out."
18. Circus Day
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28, Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., free,(317) 232-1882, indianahistory.org.
Celebrate Indiana's circus tradition with carnival games, the Hampel Family Circus, live animal shows, clowns, magicians and jugglers. Game and refreshment tickets are offered for 50 cents each.
19. Beer & Ballet
7:30 p.m. March 27, the Athenaeum, 407E. Michigan St., $15-$20, facebook.com/ballettheatreofindiana.
The best things come in pairs — peanuts and baseball, hotdogs and fireworks, popcorn and movies. That's why we're excited the Ballet Theatre of Indiana and Sun King Brewing are teaming up to present "Beer & Ballet," a night of contemporary and classical ballet performances served with locally-brewed suds. Because why not? Pirouettes and IPAs just might be a match made in heaven. — Wei-Huan Chen
20. Walk the Moon
7:30 p.m. March 31, Egyptian Room in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $22.50, (800) 745-3000, livenation.com.
In 2012, Walk the Moon was a baby band from Cincinnati playing the side stage of X103's "May Day" festival. Today, Walk the Moon has a propulsive hit with "Shut Up and Dance with Me" — which reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's charts for alternative songs and rock airplay.
As "Dance" edged into the Top 60 of the Hot 100, Walk the Moon made a Feb. 19 visit to "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."
— David Lindquist